Mercury Rises (Book Two of the Mercury Series) [Paperback]

Robert Kroese (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 18, 2011 | Series: Book Two of the Mercury Series

Mercury Rises: The explosive sequel to Mercury Falls!

Jaded religion reporter Christine Temetri and Mercury, a renegade angel, have just thwarted two diabolical plots to destroy the world. But their work isn’t finished yet: mysterious powers outranking even the Heavenly bureaucracy seem intent on keeping the Apocalypse on track. While the world is plagued by natural disasters and nations prepare for war, crazed billionaire Horace Finch plots to use a secret device hidden beneath the African desert to discover the deepest secrets of the Universe—even if he has to destroy the Universe to do it. Meanwhile, unassuming FBI investigator Jacob Slater tries in vain to find a rational explanation for the mysterious destruction of downtown Anaheim—a quest that ultimately brings him to Kenya, where he meets Christine and Mercury. Together, the three must stop Finch from activating the device and tearing reality to pieces. Uproarious and wildly entertaining, Mercury Rises proves that the devil is in the details!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Exclusive: Apocalyptic Journalist Christine Temetri Interviews Robert Kroese

Christine Temetri: Mercury Falls concerned a plot to bring about the apocalypse. Can we assume, given the fact that you have now written a sequel called Mercury Rises, that the apocalypse did not occur?

Robert Kroese: Apocalypse is a process. It's not something that just happens all of a sudden. And it's not entirely clear that you can prevent it, although it seems to have been delayed a bit. As Harry Giddings said, "We've always been headed toward the apocalypse. It’s just a question of proximity."

CT: So what can you tell us about Mercury Rises? Does the apocalypse happen in that one?

RK: I probably shouldn't answer that.

CT: Well, I hear you're working on a third Mercury book, so presumably it doesn't. Gotta keep that gravy train running, huh?

RK: I’m sorry, have I done something to offend you? Why are you so anxious for the apocalypse to happen?

CT: Why am I so anxious? Do you know how many near-apocalypses I've been through? Not to mention the fact that in Mercury Falls, you almost killed me on five different occasions. I can only imagine what I get subjected to in Mercury Rises.

RK: Oh, you're not in Mercury Rises.

CT: I’m WHAT?

RK: That was a joke. Of course you're in Mercury Rises. The volcano scene wouldn't be nearly as exciting without you.

CT: Volcano scene?

RK: You'll see. It's fantastic. There's a flaming goat head and everything.

CT: Sounds like a real literary coup. I suppose I have to put up with that jackass Mercury in this one, too?

RK: Well, he is the title character.

CT: Yeah, about that. Wasn't the first book really more about me than Mercury? Why isn't it Christine Falls?

RK: Mainly because that's a terrible title.

CT: So, do Mercury and I get together in this one?

RK: Um...it's really not that sort of book. There isn't a lot of, you know, getting together.

CT: To sum up, then, no apocalypse and no sex. Is there anything of interest in this book at all?

RK: Uh...well, there are ziggurats.

CT: What's a ziggurat?

RK: You know, a step pyramid. Like in ancient Babylon?

CT: The big selling point of the book is that it has “step pyramids” in it?

RK: Well, not the big selling point.

Mercury: Wow, dude, you are terrible at this.

CT: Mercury! Where did you come from?

M: I have a tendency to show up whenever Rob starts to get really long-winded and boring.

RK: He's like comic relief.

M: More like AWESOMENESS relief.

RK: That makes it sound like you're offering relief from awesomeness.

M: Dude, seriously. I've got this. Go read your Stan Hawkins book.

RK: It's Stephen Hawking. He's a famous physicist. I'm doing some research for book number three. You see, there’s this guy in Mercury Rises who is trying to capture these quantum particles to try to...

M: Wow, I just felt this tremendous disturbance in the Force, like a million people not caring at all.

RK: Fine. [inaudible]...write you out of existence...[inaudible]...

M: Good luck with that, Physics Boy!

---

"Mercury is an engaging character and his many adventures are uproariously funny. The main character development is first rate. The supporting cast of assorted demons, archangels and others in their settings of cubicle hell and layers of heavenly bureaucracy along with ample helpings of history and biblical lore make for a thoroughly entertaining read." --Monsters and Critics

From Booklist

The sequel to Kroese’s debut, Mercury Falls, finds the irreverent angel Mercury and his reporter pal, Christine Temetri, again facing the end of the world. The U.S. government is still trying to puzzle out the explosion that took out Anaheim Stadium and sends dozens of experts to comb the area for clues. Now out of a job, Christine decides to put some distance between herself and Los Angeles by traveling to Africa to volunteer for an aid organization. She finds two things she doesn’t expect in Kenya: wealthy entrepreneur Horace Finch, whose under-the-radar biosphere masks a secret project, and an antibomb like the one that destroyed Anaheim Stadium. The discoveries bring her back together with Mercury as the two battle human and angel foes to prevent the antibomb from imploding the world. Though not quite as seamless as its predecessor, Kroese’s sharp-witted follow-up will certainly appeal to Mercury Falls fans. The cliff-hanger ending will have readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. — Kristine Huntley

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Product Details

• Paperback: 326 pages
• Publisher: AmazonEncore (October 18, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612180868
• ISBN-13: 978-1612180861
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #571,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert Kroese's sense of irony was honed growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan - home of the Amway Corporation and the Gerald R. Ford Museum, and the first city in the United States to fluoridate its water supply. In second grade, he wrote his first novel, the saga of Captain Bill and his spaceship Thee Eagle. This turned out to be the high point of his academic career. After barely graduating from Calvin College in 1992 with a philosophy degree, he was fired from a variety of jobs before moving to California, where he stumbled into software development. As this job required neither punctuality nor a sense of direction, he excelled at it. In 2009, he called upon his extensive knowledge of useless information and love of explosions to write his first novel, Mercury Falls. Since then, he has written two sequels, Mercury Rises (2011) and Mercury Rests (2012), and a humorous epic fantasy, Disenchanted.

Website: robertkroese.com
Facebook: facebook.com/robkroese
Twitter: twitter.com/robkroese

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the opposite of gloom and doom apocalyptic books October 18, 2011

By Medeia Sharif

Format:Paperback

Because this is a sequel, I don't want to reveal any backstory that might spoil the reading of the first book for those who haven't picked up MERCURY FALLS yet. Obviously, since this is the second book, the world wasn't destroyed in the first one. But there are forces out there that continue to put the world in danger of the Apocalypse. Journalist Christine Temetri and angel Mercury make their reappearance to help save the world. Also, a FBI bomb expert named Jacob comes into play as he tries to figure out the mechanics behind a mysterious explosion, which was actually an implosion, that occurred in California. His investigation leads him to being kidnapped by a kook who wants to open a doorway to other planes of existence.

When I think of apocalyptic books gloom and doom come to mind--and I'm not knocking those darker books since I read and love them--but it's refreshing to read one that has such engaging, wacky characters with a thread of humor throughout the novel. There were some scenes that go way back, and it was a treat to see Mercury at the time of Noah's Ark (although, it was kind of sad to see why unicorns no longer exist). I find Kroese's writing to be intelligent as he brings elements of religion, history, and science together. Now I'm awaiting the third installment, and I hope it won't be too long of a wait.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Apocalypse Redux September 1, 2011

By Justin G. TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The apocalypse has been averted, the bad guys failed, and the good guys triumphed. Massive casualties aside, all's well that ends well, right? Well, maybe not. Reporter Christine Temetri and the angelic troublemaker Mercury may have foiled plans for the end of the world in Mercury Falls, but some people just can't be talked out of, you know, trying to destroy all of existence.

Mercury Rises, the second book in author Rob Kroese's planned trilogy, picks up right where Mercury Falls left off. Still reeling from the "Anaheim Event" that claimed so many lives; a newly jobless Christine heads to Africa with a relief organization, only to find herself in the middle of another doomsday plot. This one has its roots in ancient Babylon, which is where we find Mercury, hard at work for Tiamat, the demon who caused so much grief in Mercury Falls. Over the course of these looks back in time, we get an idea just how long Tiamat has been planning her apocalyptic power grab, not to mention a hysterical recounting of Mercury's run-ins with Noah and his menagerie. Add to the mix a hefty helping of archangels, minor demons, the Heavenly bureaucracy, the cubicle farms of Hell, the obscure Saint Culain and the not so obscure Devil himself, not to mention one very dangerous glass apple, and you have the makings of yet another offbeat tale of apocalyptic proportions.

As with Mercury Falls, Kroese combines elements of Biblical lore, science fiction and pure adventure, and does it in a way that's consistently funny. The story takes a while to really gel, and gets downright absurd at some points, but Mercury Rises has two things going for it that more than make up for any flaws - very memorable characters on all sides of the conflict and a dry, sarcastic wit that's put to very good use, recalling Christopher Moore, Kevin Smith and to some extent Chuck Klosterman. "LOL" has become shorthand for anything remotely humorous, but you will literally laugh out loud multiple times reading this book.

Since this is the middle volume in the trilogy, the ending of Mercury Rises is not very satisfying, even though getting there was a lot of fun. If you enjoyed Mercury Falls, then Mercury Rises will not disappoint, though waiting for book three will be tough.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great humor on every page October 21, 2011

By NewDiane VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This is the second book in a series, and I didn't read the first one. But that's okay, this book is a treat on its own. There's a convoluted plot which is of less importance than the constant humor. This is a fun read, with gods, the wise-mouth cherub named Mercury, a mad billionaire, and all sorts of oddball people, creatures and events. Mercury and his buddies are trying to save the world, and it's a tough chore. For example, he encounters an old dude, Noah, and his ark. The raven pops by but Noah shoos him back to the ark. A pigeon turns up, and Noah smacks him away. Finally, a parrot arrives and announces, ""Noah! I am the LORD your God. The flood is over! Land the boat already!You want a cracker? That's a good girl. Tell him, just like that. Don't forget the first part. I am the LORD your God!" Noah, I need hardly add, shoos the parrot away and blames his son for teaching the parrot to talk. The scenarios also remind me of Monty Python. This book is worth reading just for the laugh-out-loud parts, which are on almost every page. I hope there are more books planned for this series - it's totally enjoyable.